Continue with onX Maps
Sign in with Facebook
Mountain Light Wall Rock Climbing
Routes in Mountain Light Wall
|
El Duderino T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a |
|
|
Golden Pillar T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b |
|
Pocknobbit T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a |
|
|
Rude Awakening T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b |
|
S-Knobbish T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a |
|
|
Snowblind T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c |
|
|
Twisted Transistor T 5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b |
Order Wrong?
Sort Routes
Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
| Elevation: | 9,900 ft | 3,018 m |
| GPS: |
37.2818, -118.6444 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
|
| Page Views: | 10,610 total · 61/month | |
| Shared By: | Bryan G on Jul 16, 2010 | |
| Admins: | Aron Quiter, Euan Cameron, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
Description
Mountain Light Wall is nestled in the foothills at the base of the Sierras, just a couple miles north-east of Mount Humphreys. The views are stunning and you're sure to have the wall to yourself. The area was recently developed so most fixed gear and anchors are big and bomber with easy lower-offs, making the climbing surprisingly convenient for how remote the formation is.
These newly developed routes however haven't yet had enough traffic to be "cleaned up". In contrast to the fabulous views, the rock quality here leaves a lot to be desired. This ain't no Cardinal Pinnacle. The rock is course and exfoliating. Most of the large flakes and features are pretty bomber at least, so you don't have to worry too much about pulling down a death block on your belayer. He/she will just be gently showered by a constant rain of granite crystals and grit. Many of the routes do have the potential to clean up after numerous ascents, but given the wall's rather difficult location, that's not likely to happen for some years.
The formation is north-east facing, but because of it's low angle tilt, most of the routes receive sun from morning until afternoon in the summer. There is a snow cone at the base in the early season, making the best time to climb in the late summer and fall. On hotter days the wall can bake and the pale granite reflects a lot of sunlight. The base of the cliff has a beautiful assortment of wildflowers which also attract a lot of bees, something to consider if you are allergic to bee stings.
More information about Mountain Light Wall and many other areas around Bishop and Lone Pine can be found in the highly recommended guidebook "Bishop Area Rock Climbs" (Croft/Lewis). See maximuspress.com/shop/prodd…
These newly developed routes however haven't yet had enough traffic to be "cleaned up". In contrast to the fabulous views, the rock quality here leaves a lot to be desired. This ain't no Cardinal Pinnacle. The rock is course and exfoliating. Most of the large flakes and features are pretty bomber at least, so you don't have to worry too much about pulling down a death block on your belayer. He/she will just be gently showered by a constant rain of granite crystals and grit. Many of the routes do have the potential to clean up after numerous ascents, but given the wall's rather difficult location, that's not likely to happen for some years.
The formation is north-east facing, but because of it's low angle tilt, most of the routes receive sun from morning until afternoon in the summer. There is a snow cone at the base in the early season, making the best time to climb in the late summer and fall. On hotter days the wall can bake and the pale granite reflects a lot of sunlight. The base of the cliff has a beautiful assortment of wildflowers which also attract a lot of bees, something to consider if you are allergic to bee stings.
More information about Mountain Light Wall and many other areas around Bishop and Lone Pine can be found in the highly recommended guidebook "Bishop Area Rock Climbs" (Croft/Lewis). See maximuspress.com/shop/prodd…
Getting There
If you have a high clearance vehicle expect a 40 minute drive from Bishop and a 40 minute hike. If you don't have a high clearance vehicle expect a 30+ minute drive and something in the range of 1.5 - 3 hours of hiking.
From Bishop take W Line Stree (CA-168) out of town for 7.3 miles. Turn right on Buttermilk Road. Drive past the bouldering areas and do your best to stay on the main road as several unmarked side roads branch off. After around 5 miles the road will start getting pretty bad with lots of large rock threatening the bottom of your vehicle. After another couple miles you will pass a couple cattle guards. The first cattle guard has a lot of grass growing out of it and the second one is larger and painted green. There is a small pullout and camp site just past the second cattle guard. If you have a lower clearance vehicle you will not want to go any further than this. A few hundred yards ahead the road gets really rough for a short section. There is a split. You want to stay left on the uphill and very rocky road. Don't go right onto the uphill and grassy road. After that stay left at all the forks. You will drive/hike across McGee Creek. After the creek, stay right at all the forks including the split where the main road (7S01) branches off to the left. Take the now unnamed road further west and you will come to a grove of trees with nice shaded camping. Continue up a steep hill until you reach a plateau. Go straight through an intersection (you will see/hear a dam to your right on the other side of a hill) and finally park at a small turnabout loop.
From the end of the road their is a drainage just infront of you. Pick up the trail on the left side of the drainage and follow it as it contours into a valley to the right. Eventually the trail will run next to McGee Creek and by this point you will have probably noticed that Mountain Light Wall is just to your left. Hike across a field and up some talus to the base of the wall.
From Bishop take W Line Stree (CA-168) out of town for 7.3 miles. Turn right on Buttermilk Road. Drive past the bouldering areas and do your best to stay on the main road as several unmarked side roads branch off. After around 5 miles the road will start getting pretty bad with lots of large rock threatening the bottom of your vehicle. After another couple miles you will pass a couple cattle guards. The first cattle guard has a lot of grass growing out of it and the second one is larger and painted green. There is a small pullout and camp site just past the second cattle guard. If you have a lower clearance vehicle you will not want to go any further than this. A few hundred yards ahead the road gets really rough for a short section. There is a split. You want to stay left on the uphill and very rocky road. Don't go right onto the uphill and grassy road. After that stay left at all the forks. You will drive/hike across McGee Creek. After the creek, stay right at all the forks including the split where the main road (7S01) branches off to the left. Take the now unnamed road further west and you will come to a grove of trees with nice shaded camping. Continue up a steep hill until you reach a plateau. Go straight through an intersection (you will see/hear a dam to your right on the other side of a hill) and finally park at a small turnabout loop.
From the end of the road their is a drainage just infront of you. Pick up the trail on the left side of the drainage and follow it as it contours into a valley to the right. Eventually the trail will run next to McGee Creek and by this point you will have probably noticed that Mountain Light Wall is just to your left. Hike across a field and up some talus to the base of the wall.
Classic Climbing Routes at Mountain Light Wall
Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
Sun Angles Details:
Weather Averages
|
High
|
Low
|
|
Precip
|
Days w Precip
|
Prime Climbing Season
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
Photos
All Photos Within Mountain Light Wall
Most Popular · Newest · RandomMore About Mountain Light Wall
Printer-FriendlyWhat's New
Guidebooks (4)
1 Comment